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Colombia and Britsh Columbia

I have thought for a while about the similarities between Colombia and British Columbia a lot.

The most apparent is the similarity in landscape. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if this had anything to do with naming the Canadian province of BC or if it is a tribute to Columbus as Colombia was.

The industry is a little similar too. Especially the percentage of the economy which has to do with illicit drugs.

Whenever I enter Colombia or British Columbia, I get a similar feeling of entering paradise which hasn't really happened anywhere else for me.

I just wish it was as safe to Explore Colombian wilderness as it is in BC.

By Chriscan on Jun 3, 2009, 10:41 in Friendly Talkzone.

romy says on Jun 3, 2009, 11:13:

did you see this?

British Columbia or Colombia?
http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=1374...

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bopenyan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 3, 2009, 12:35:

LOL....I was going to post that article on this website. With regard to the name of the province, it was to distinguish that part of the Columbia River basin under British as opposed to US control (Lewis and Clark had discovered where the mouth of the Columbia River met the Pacific Ocean, hence being able to establish a claim on behalf of the US for the lands served by the river).

Other similarities. The work ethic is the same in BC as it is in Colombia. So is the relative rate of efficiency of public services.

Big difference is that immigrant communities do not play a prominent demographic/cultural/political/economic role in Colombia as they do in BC.

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somedumbguy says on Jun 3, 2009, 13:06:

The equator vs the north pole?

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yummyj says on Jun 3, 2009, 13:10:

BC is nowhere near the North Pole. Alaska is farther north than BC. Does Santa live in Alaska?

US Americans need to not only be given maps, then need to look at them once in a while. (courtesy of Miss South Carolina)

Just because you have been to Colombia, that does NOT mean that you are anywhere near an expert on the place. Sorry. Truth hurts.

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drvannostren says on Jun 3, 2009, 13:18:

I can't tell if you guys are insulting BC or not...I live in Vancouver, and have been to Colombia twice, coming up on trip #3. I do see some similarities, but their on the positive side. There's lush greenery here like in many parts of Colombia, Medellin is a big city, bigger than Vancouver, has the really nice parts, has the ghetto parts, but the people city wide are friendly in both.

I agree with Bopenyan on the immigrant comment about BC, it's truly a melting pot. As far as public services go, I've never had any problems with anything I've ever had to do here. I don't fully agree with the "illicit" drug comment. Last time I checked, New York, DC, LA, Miami, London, Hong Kong pretty much any major city, especially ones with sea-ports face the same drug problems, with scale based on the population. If you're just talking about weed, then I'd hardly call that an illicit drug. I've smoked weed enough times to be able to speak on it, I'm no stoner, and I don't really wanna jump into a whole political debate, but if we're comparing cocaine to marijuana, it's apples to oranges.

No matter where you go, the Korean tour bus isn't far behind.

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Simon says on Jun 3, 2009, 15:29:

British Columbia sucks!!!

Viva the real Colombia!!!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Man Tequila says on Jun 3, 2009, 16:46:

El Pinol kind of reminded me of British Columbia. I' have heard something like 25% of Nelson's industry revolves around weed. Both have pretty good weather, and the work ethic is similar too. But they don't like to dance, and Colombians are friendlier.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Sam Salmon says on Jun 3, 2009, 18:09:

Much better Marijuana here in BC-much better looking women in Colombia generally.

' a la orden!'

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workingdawg says on Jun 3, 2009, 18:57:

Lets not forget the gang war that never seems to end in Vancouver.
There a new shooting every week.

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CanadianCorey says on Jun 3, 2009, 19:15:

My future is Colombia.. having lived in Britsh colombia for many years, Im tired of the cold weather. I find people friendly here, but Colombians really seem to have more fun in general.

Cartegena has won me over...I love it, in fact Ill be there again next week...:)

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Simon says on Jun 3, 2009, 19:42:

Don't take everything I say so seriously, Kurious, hehe.

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 3, 2009, 21:24:

Green - both are super green

BTW santa lives in Finland

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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Rocco81 says on Jun 3, 2009, 23:10:

Hey what about my dearest District of Colombia...its closer to Colombia than British Colombia and its almost as dangerous as Colombia, without nice beaches and nice people and hot women and well...I could go on but you get the point.

But we do have Obama..is that a good thing?

Sic semper tyrannis

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drvannostren says on Jun 3, 2009, 23:26:

Nelson, 25% weed economy, it's goddamn Nelson for christ sake, 25% is probably what I make in a year, it's a blip on the radar, it's like saying Cartagena's economy is 25% prostitution, it's 1 town in a big country. Anyone who SERIOUSLY dumps on Canada, doesn't have a clue what their talking about. It's not perfect, there isn't anywhere that's perfect, do I like the rain, not really, but I don't like NY snow, and I don't like Texas tornados, or Florida's hurricanes either. Colombia isn't perfect, and while it seems to be from afar, and to me as a tourist, I'm sure if I ever get a chance to live there it'll have plenty of shortcomings. I try not to dump on anyone's country, because it just isn't fair, if you don't live there, you don't know, so anyone taking a crap on my country can shove it, and I won't crap on yours. I think the American health system is a joke, but I know plenty of Americans, some that even like the system, so you can never really win. Unless we all become lottery winners and move to Bora Bora, where we never need to do anything other than lounge around, you'll never REALLY be satisfied with any homeland, you just need to love what you've got.

No matter where you go, the Korean tour bus isn't far behind.

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romy says on Jun 4, 2009, 00:51:

you tell em Joe

I'll sing it proudly with ya... I am you know I am! I am Canadian!

One more because it's life in Canada

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 4, 2009, 07:44:

The marijuana economy in BC is not a blip on the radar. A few years ago I heard an estimate that only indoor growing employs 300000 people. I've also heard that its bigger than fishing and forestry. Now you can't get raw data on this but it is big.

Vancouver is the biggest hub on the west coast for organized crime.

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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romy says on Jun 4, 2009, 09:24:

no that's the simpleton explanation that's given to the ignorant...

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billyb says on Jun 4, 2009, 09:35:

"BTW santa lives in Finland"

Is he shackin' up with Desi?

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 4, 2009, 11:36:

Sorry

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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papiChulo says on Jun 4, 2009, 23:50:

jonny2008... it was a commercial to sell crappy beer mate but I never like the ad much either.

I'm givin'er... givin'er HARDCORE

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Chriscan (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 5, 2009, 00:43:

More than anything, I find the landscapes to be very similar. There really are 3 BC's. Teh most unique is the lower mainland with immigrants and total city life. The island and smaller islands around it with it's Utopians and fragle rockers and then there is the majority of the province, sparcely populated with a mix of a minority of hippies and a majority of rednecks who have more in common than many think.

I called a buddy in Golden a hippy and he said," Hippy? This is golden, there are no hippies. We all have guns and chainsaws. The hippies here are dreadnecks."

Beam me up Scotty; No intelligent life here.

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La_Huella says on Jun 5, 2009, 09:11:

The landscapes are eerily similar. So is the fact that if you go far enough off the beaten path you are in grave danger :P That logging territory in northern BC is a freaking war zone!!

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billyb says on Jun 5, 2009, 15:56:

Same thing in the far north counties of California, like Humboldt, I would bet 50% of the economy in those counties is marijuana driven. The Mexican cartels are bringing in poor families to live in the national forests up there and tend to their weed patches, and if you stray off the beaten path, well...watch out.

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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La_Huella says on Jun 7, 2009, 11:58:

Stuff is really the same all over the world. I know a Colombian couple who were working for PetroCanada up in Saskatchewan and they were actually shot at by angry natives. I don't condone it, but I can't blame the natives for feeling that way. Sad.

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